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34 I-CONNECT007 MAGAZINE I APRIL 2026 BY N O L A N J O H N S O N , I - C O N N ECT 0 07 A RT I C L E Market volatility for precious metals is very real. Financial organizations have reported elevated volatility, with record highs and steep corrections; in 2025 alone, gold has increased by over 60%, silver over 120%, and copper over 35%. Each is a critical raw material used in electronics manufacturing, where pricing is already fraught for business owners and their customers due to tariff uncertainty and a critical supply chain that resides Volatile Metals Market Creates PCB Pricing Headache mostly in China. The volatility of precious metals markets adds yet another layer of complexity for manufacturers, pushing up raw material costs. Though it may seem obvious, analysts concur that the volatility is driven in large part by global macroeconomic data, shifting U.S. policy, and infla- tion numbers. Traders are rotating between risk assets (stocks, etc.) and safe havens (metals and, to a lesser degree, bonds). When investors make a